Fillmore County District Court

On October 12, Merrick Michael Jerviss, 40, of Stewartville, appeared before District Court Judge Carol M. Hanks. Jerviss is charged with five felonies; Burglary – 1st Degree – Dwelling – Occupied – Non-Accomplice Present, Burglary – 2nd Degree – Dwelling, Violate No Contact Order – Within Ten Years of the First of Two or More Convictions, Domestic Abuse – Violates Two or More Orders for Protection Within Ten Years of Previous Conviction/Adjudication of Delinquency, and Terroristic Threats – Reckless Disregard Risk. The first offense (1st Degree Burglary) carries a maximum criminal penalty of 20 years in prison and/or a $35,000 fine, the second offense (2nd Degree Burglary) 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine, and the final three offenses five years in prison and/or $10,000 fines. On or about October 10, within the city of Chatfield, a police officer tried to make contact with the defendant, who was on foot. It was allegedly clear to the officer the suspect was in an altered state of mind. The defendant wasn’t receptive to said contact, and allegedly made his way to an apartment on Winona Street to “make sure his wife was okay.” The officer was aware there was an active Order for Protection and Domestic No Contact Order protecting the “wife,” who lives at the apartment on Winona Street. When the officer tried to arrest the defendant, he allegedly fled on foot, but ended up back at the apartment on Winona Street. The defendant was allegedly acting erratic, yelling obscenities and false accusations. He allegedly climbed up on a balcony at the apartment and wouldn’t go quietly. Officers asked for more assistance. Jerviss allegedly threatened to assault officers. He allegedly barricaded himself behind a table and put up deterrents to non-lethal police enforcement tactics. The defendant then allegedly broke into his wife’s apartment. Officers went into the apartment and were able to subdue the subject via taser. Jerviss has previous convictions for Violation of Order for Protection (Winona County 2015), Felony Fleeing a Peace Officer (Winona County 2018), Obstructing the Legal Process and Fleeing an Officer (Winona County 2018), Fleeing a Peace Officer on Foot (Goodhue County 2011), 5th Degree Assault (Olmsted County 2018), 4th Degree Criminal Damage to Property (Dodge County 2016), and Disorderly Conduct (Olmsted County 2018).